Tag: health

My first MRI ( OCD research)

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello my bucket list friends ! On Monday I did something pretty exciting,I got my first ever MRI . I was nervous at first but it was an interesting new experience and I can’t wait to share it with you .  Now I’m not sick or anything , I’m lucky enough to be participating in an OCD research study at Stanford. With all that being said here is the story of my first MRI.

 

 

My first MRI

I’ve been doing the pre-screening for this study for a while now but I didn’t want to say anything on this blog until things got going .  The study will be researching TMS treatments for people with OCD. TMS has been used for OCD and other mental health conditions but usually the treatments are done in a time span of 4-6 weeks . For this study I will be doing the treatments for one week . The study will see how effective the treatments are in the span of a week . During the study I will be getting two MRI scans . The first one was completed on Monday and the second one will be done after the TMS treatments are completed. On Monday I went to Stanford University to get my first MRI. I arrived about 45 minutes early so I had some time to explore the beautiful campus . It was raining on and off that day and I had to keep my hair dry for the MRI so I kept my hood on most of the time while I was exploring .  My favorite thing about the campus was this big beautiful fountain I took so many pictures by it . After some exploring it was time for the MRI. I was nervous but it wasn’t that bad at all .  I did some paper work then I got dressed up in some fancy blue scrubs. After putting in some ear plugs it was time to say hello to the MRI machine . I felt nice and cozy in the machine it wasn’t bad at all in there.  It was loud even with ear plugs and you can call me weird if you want but I kind of liked the noise .  I was in there for about 90 minutes I think. When it was done I felt a little dizzy but not bad I was very tired that night but it is all worth it to be apart of this amazing study .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

My essential oil diffuser !

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! I’m happy to say that I’ve already been making some progress with some of new years goals ( you can read them here ) including finally setting up my essential oil diffuser ! I’m excited to tell you about it , here we go !

 

My essential oil diffuser !

 

I got my essential oil diffuser from Amazon. There are many different styles to choose from with a pretty wide range of prices . The one I chose is cone shaped and it changes colors . It has been sitting in my room for a while but today I finally got it set up. I’ve mentioned before how much I love lavender ( you can read about it HERE) so of course that was the first oil that I put in my diffuser . As soon as I turned the diffuser on it began to fill my room with a wonderful relaxing  lavender scent . I also loved the changing colors it was a fun touch . Before long my room was a lavender paradise ! I’m excited to try other oils in my diffuser as well .  I’m also excited to use this diffuser more and more to help me relax .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

Living the bucket list life

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, My bucket list friends ! When posting on social media I sometimes use the hashtag bucket list life but what does that really mean ? I thought it would be a good idea to take a further look at this and also to give all of you some suggestions on how to live the bucket list life on a average day .

 

Living the bucket list life

 

To me Living the bucket life life is more then just crossing items off your bucket list, It is an attitude or maybe even a life style . To me a bucket list is not just a list of things to do in your lifetime. It’s the idea that life is really meant to be lived to the fullest .Let’s face it all to often our lives become a retinue of the same things over and over again. We get stressed and grumpy and we often forget to take time to do the things that we really enjoy, the things that make us smile and help us to truly love life . So how do you live the bucket list life ? Simply put you take time for you and the people and things you love . It’s about trying to mix up your routine to keep life exciting ! Yes, I’ll be honest some days are not that great and that’s OK. Living the bucket list life is not a solution to all of life’s problems but it is a way to make life a little happier .  Below I’ve listed a few ways on how to live the bucket list life !

Try something new – Instead of getting the same thing for lunch try something new or wear clothes that you haven’t worn in a while mixing things up just a little bit will add a little bit of excitement to your day .

Do at least one thing you love everyday – It could be something as simple as watching a show you like or listening to your favorite playlist or setting some time aside for a hobby you enjoy like drawing or dancing . Taking time to do something you love will add a little boost of happiness to your day .

Day Dream – OK, I know it sounds a little silly but seriously instead of repeating your to-do list or thinking about all the bills you have to pay have a little fun with your thoughts ! Think about what you want to cross off your list next , your favorite memories , the best vacation you’ve even been on , or the trip you want to take next . Taking some time for positive thoughts will help to put you in a positive mood even if your not crossing an item off your list that day .

 

I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for living the bucket list life ! Have fun crossing off items everyone !

Rock On – Christina Epperly

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Bouncing back after living in sick town

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello , my bucket list friends ! I’m happy to report that this is my second day being back at work after being out sick . ( you can read about my sick days here ) I’m still not 100% better but I’m feeling much more productive again . I’m not sure what I was sick with but in the meantime I’m being very careful about what I eat. I’m cutting back on foods like cheese and beans that can cause digestive problems. I’m also drinking tea like crazy ! The tea I’ve been drinking while sick is Traditional Medicinals Belly comfort peppermint tea. It tastes good and it helps to keep me hydrated . I’m looking forward to being all the way better hopefully very soon ! I hope all for you are staying well and staying out of sick town ! Rock on – Christina Epperly

I don’t have time to be sick!

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello , my bucket list friends ! This post is going to be a bit of a rant but have you ever been sick at a very inconvenient time ? I mean I guess there is never a good time to get sick but there are sometimes that are better or worse than others .When I was a kid my family got the flu during Christmas time . It was definitely  not fun at all . Well currently I’m dealing with a very inconvenient sickness . On Tuesday I had to leave work early because I was feeling so sick . I was also unable to go to my second job that afternoon . Yesterday I missed an appointment and another shift of work . This morning I missed another shift at one of my jobs .In addition to missing all that work,on Tuesday night I was in horrible pain my abdomen was hurting so bad I thought I was going to have to going to the ER but fortunately the pain decreased and I was able to get some sleep. yesterday I was feeling very week and I didn’t to much but sleep and lay on the couch. Being sick is never fun but it’s hard for me to miss all this work when Christmas is coming and I have gifts to buy . The good news is I slept pretty well last night and I’m feeling ok today not 100% better but I feel well enough to make it to my afternoon job ! I’m excited to get back to work after being out for awhile . Stay Well my friends !

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

I love Lavender ! ( especially when times are tough )

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! I consider myself to be a very open and honest person.  I have talked about my struggle with OCD on this blog before . The truth is things have been hard for me lately . My depression was acting up a few weeks ago . I became exhausted from everyday life. All I wanted to do was sleep . I became more prone to panic attacks .Then things really got bad when a friend of mine died unexpectedly . Since then I’ve had more panic attacks and even some chest pain . There lots of things that I do to help me through a hard times. Such as getting enough sleep,( but not too much) working out , praying , and writing .  Lately I’ve been getting more into essential oils . One of my favorite essential oils is Lavender it is so calming and relaxing . I’ve been using it the past few days or so and it is amazing ! It helps to calm me down very quickly ! I got some in a spray bottle that I can carry with me and use it as needed . I know that there are other kinds of essential oils that can be helpful for stress as well but for now lavender is my go to for stress relief !

Rock on – Christina Epperly

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Life after vacation

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! being a bucket lister often means having a love of travel and adventure and boy do I love both of those things ! Well there is something I haven’t really written about before but it happens to me all the time . Most of the time whenever I come back from vacation I get after vacation blues . It’s hard to go from being on an amazing vacation where every day is an adventure to going back to the same old stuff. I know I’m not the only one that has this problem I looked it up . I hope by sharing my experiences with after vacation life I will be able to help some one else who has the same problem . Let’s get to it !

 

 

 

Life after vacation

When a vacation ends I have mixed feelings . On one hand I’m excited to go back home see my friends , family ,cats and sleep in my own bed again but On the other hand I can’t believe it’s over already ! As the saying goes time flies when you’re having fun and that is so true when it comes to vacations. For me though going back home is easy compared to getting back into the everyday routine of life . All throughout the day I keep thinking about how I wish I could just travel and blog all the time but I know that won’t being happening soon . Even though it might some day ! The thing that works best for me is to try to focus on positive things like all the fun stuff I did on vacation ! Lately when I have been feeling upset I replay the moment in my head when I met Alice Cooper and before I know it I’m smiling ! I also like telling other people about my vacation it’s almost like I’m back on vacation . Another thing that can help me cope with after vacation depression is to treat myself  a week ago I bought this really cute stuffed dinosaur at Walgreens ! They are starting to put their Christmas items out so there where a lot of cute animals to choose from ,getting a new stuffed animal gave me a little does of happiness that was much needed . I also try to focus on the everyday things that bring me joy such as watching one of my favorite shows , waking up with cats on my bed , and the yummy soup that I get from the store by my work . It may take some time but before I know it I’m back in the swing of things and looking forward to my next adventure ! To sum all this up I’ve made a list below of my life after vacation tips .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

Tips for getting back to normal life after an amazing vacation

 

  1. Think about positive memories it can be from the vacation you just got from or  from another happy time in your life .
  2. Treat yourself ! Eat your favorite foods or buy yourself something new and exciting like a new outfit or a stuffed dinosaur. 🙂
  3. Make a list of all things you enjoy about every day life .
  4. plan your next adventure.
  5. Tell others about your fun vacation it may just inspire their next trip !

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My crazy heath problems

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends As I’m sure you all know life is a crazy thing sometimes it’s crazy in a good way sometimes not so much . Right now I’m facing some problems and I know from experience that it is good to talk about both sides of life .  So here we go !

 

My Crazy health problems !

Ok ,bucket list friends I’m not sure how to explain all of this but I’ll do my best .  For as long as I can remember my hormones have been crazy  I always thought it was related to my OCD but now my hormone problems are getting worse.  I’m trying my best to  figure out everything . Since last Thursday I’ve been to the doctors three times . I’ve had a blood test and an Ultrasound . After my doctor goes over everything I should know more . For now What I know is that my Iron is very low and that is causing me to be very dizzy. I’ve been taking Iron to stop the dizziness  but I’ve still been getting dizzy and I get very tired . I have been taking a lot more naps then normal . All of this has caused me to miss work and that does not help me with all doctors bills . It is hard to stay positive in times like this and every little thing that happens like leaving your dad’s Disney World sweat shirt at the doctor’s office or sleeping wrong and waking up with a very painful neck seems to add a whole new layer of stress on to what you already have. The best advice that I give to myself and others that are going through times like this is look backward and forward . I know that may sound a little strange but stay with me . first look back on all the good times that you’ve had and all the blessing you have received now look forward  to all the good things ahead . Think about your dreams and your plans for the future . Focusing on all the good things that have happened and the good things that will happen can be just the dose of positivity that you need . I have faith that I’ll be feeling feeling better soon and I can’t wait for my next adventure .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

Super Run 5k February 2018

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello ,My bucket list friends ! One of my goals for 2018 is to get back into doing 5k races. I’m happy to say that I recently did my first race of the year it was a really fun! Keep reading to hear all about it !

 

Super Run 5k February 17th 2018

I really enjoy doing 5k races but it had been a while since I had done one because I was in massage school for a year . Now that I have more time I’m excited to get back into doing something I love . The day of the race I was excited and ready to go . As you might have guessed the race had a super hero theme. A lot of the racers dressed up in some really fun and creative costumes but I stuck to my workout pants and a purple shirt . I was doing the race with my mom and we both wanted to walk the 5k so we stayed together during the race . The race was held at a beautiful park that I had been to before but I had never done a race at . The was a lot of great scenery to look at as my mom and I fast walked our way through the race . When we got close to the finish I ran across the finish line ! I was so happy to get my awesome finisher’s medal . Not all 5k races give out finishers medals but I love when they do and that was one of the reasons that I chose this race . I had a great time with my mom at the Super 5k and I can’t wait until I get to do another one !

Rock on – Christina Epperly

January 2018 wrap up!

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, bucket list friends since January is ending soon I thought I would do a quick wrap up on the first month of 2018. I’ve been working on somethings this month and I can’t wait to tell you all about it so here we go!

 

 

My life in January 2018

 

January always seems to go by slowly for me. There does not seem to be a lot happening in January and the month just drags on. Also, the gloomy weather can cause me to become depressed. I discovered a long time ago that walking is a great way to improve my mood and that is what I have been doing a lot of this month. I have been on many walks this month and some even on sunny days! Two of my favorite walks that I took this month were the one by the beach and the one to the pond on a trail that had been closed for a long time, It felt good to go on that trail again. I also started working on one of my more long-term bucket list items #195 read 100 books in one year this month I read 8 books, so I’m off to a great start. I’ve also been doing a lot of writing this month I’ve started writing a fiction story The Unschooled Dairy of Aspen Roads (you can read it here

 

). I plan to do a lot more fiction writing this year and I have been working on two other books that I have not posted. I’ve also spent some great times with family and friends this month and as you can tell from my last blog post I dyed my hair green and that was bucket list item #166 I also booked my vacation for this summer and the destination is on my bucket list, I signed up for a 5k next month as well!   To top it all off today a whole box of my little pony toys that I won from eBay arrived today, I had so much fun looking through all the ponies. January might not usually be a very fun month but this time I feel like I turned that around, I mean I crossed off a list item and I had some great friend time! I did face some obstacles month but overall the year is off to a great start .

 

Rock on – Christina Epperly